Harlee Dean is fully aware of how important Brentford's meeting with QPR is tomorrow night.

The Bees are looking for their first win over their near neighbours since August 1965 and the centre back knows how much victory means to the club's fanbase.

And he will make sure all of his team-mates are aware of what is at stake, in case they don't already know from the atmosphere at Griffin Park.

He said: “Lee has drummed that in this week as has Peter Gilham. We'll drum the importance in tomorrow but I imagine when they see the atmosphere in the stadium they'll know it's a big game and that it's go-time as they say.”

While the defender is unsure why that is, he did suggest the knowledge of how important it was to the fans was a factor in driving him to greater heights.

He added: “It might just be a coincidence, I don't know. People thrive off big games and others go into their shell.

“I just like going out there and playing. Any game is a big game to me.

“Knowing how much it means to the people you're doing it for you want to go the extra yard. You want to score.

“When I made the mistake against Fulham I wanted the ground to swallow me up but then I made the difference and got the goal. Some people are big-game players and I'd like to see myself as one.”

Heroic: Brentford's Jota celebrates scoring the winner

The meeting with QPR bears hallmarks to Brentford's 2-1 win over west London rivals Fulham last season; Friday night, under the lights and on television and the Bees defender went from zero to hero.

Having been at fault for Hugo Rodallega's opener, Dean smashed in the equaliser in the last 10 minutes to set up Jota's dramatic last minute winner against Fulham.

And he admitted the nature of the win was made all the sweeter as it came against the local rivals.

He explained: “It was brilliant. You hear the fans during the game but you dull it out to a point. It's a little bit louder and derby games so you hear them more.

“Any last minute winner is unbelievable but having scored and having beaten Fulham it was all a bit better.”

Asked whether he'd trade a goal-conceding mistake for scoring the equaliser before a last minute winner like against the Whites last season, Dean said: “I'd rather not make the mistake but I'd take it and take the win.”